Commercial insurance prices in the U.S. were again nearly flatduring the third quarter of 2017, according to Willis TowersWatson’s Commercial Lines Insurance Pricing Survey(CLIPS).

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The survey compared prices charged on policies written duringthe third quarter of 2017 with those charged for he same coverageduring the equivalent quarter in 2016.

Price changes reported by carriers averaged less than 1% for theninth consecutive quarter, following a moderating trend in priceincreases that began in the first quarter of 2013.

Price changes in the third quarter for most lines ofbusiness were fairly consistent with changes reported in the secondquarter.

Improvement from last quarter in loss ratios

“Through three quarters of 2017, preliminary data indicate littlemovement in P&C commercial insurers’ loss ratios (excluding the impact of catastrophes) — animprovement from last quarter — as insurers revised downward theirearlier initial estimates of claim cost inflation,” said PierreLaurin, Americas Property & Casualty sales and practice leaderfor Insurance Consulting and Technology, Willis Towers Watson.

Data for workers compensation and directors and officer’sliability indicated modest price decreases, while commercialproperty prices moved towards moderation with only a slightdecrease.

Commercial auto continues to be outlier

The outlier in the survey results continues to be commercial auto,where meaningful price increases were again reported and have beenaccelerating. For most other lines, price changes fell in the lowsingle digits. Price changes were positive for small account sizesand fairly flat for mid-market and large accounts.

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